There are few things less interesting to the average motorcyclist than the latest emission regulations, they’re as easy and fun to read as the tax code. But, like taxes, you are directly affected whether you understand the regulations or not.
Motorcyclists who never touch their bikes except to ride or wash them don’t have to think about emissions very often, if the bike doesn’t run right they take it to the shop, the same place they go when they want accessories added but if you’re reading The Kneeslider, chances are pretty good that much of the work on your motorcycle is done by you, and there’s where problems can begin.
As emission regulations move forward and turn internal combustion engines into some form of power producing clean air pump, emission testing will prevent you from changing very many things on your new motorcycle. Whether it’s an exhaust or new intake system, cams or big bore kit, the effect on emissions could be substantial and chances are you’ll run into problems when you need to get that probe up your pipe. Meeting strict standards leaves very little room for tweaking before you’re over the limit and things need to be fixed which could mean undoing whatever it was you did in the first place.
For readers in California, you already know that CARB (the California Air Resources Board) is becoming the de facto emissions regulating body for the rest of the U.S. since the EPA often seems to follow along after a year or two with whatever CARB decides to put in place. Manufacturers don’t seem as willing to sell two different versions of their motorcycles anymore so whether forced to by the EPA or not, they are going to build motorcycles to meet California’s rules to begin with. For those of us living outside California, there isn’t much we can do to affect what CARB does which is more than a little frustrating and CARB is becoming incredibly strict.
Working on engines is one of the most enjoyable parts of the motorcycle hobby and a huge aftermarket is based on supplying whatever we need. Those businesses and shops catering to engine modifications need to look at the future and decide how they are going to deal with the changing landscape, acting like nothing has changed is a recipe for bankruptcy. S&S has developed their X-Wedge engine to meet EPA regulations which means they’re looking ahead but I haven’t heard of very many other companies doing much and that’s a little troubling.
I’ll try to sift and sort through some of these regulations in the near future and make some sense of them, translating government speak into English so you can understand what they mean to you. Does it mean we all buy up the vintage bikes that are not affected by the regulations or do we start looking at battery power? I’m not really sure what the best route will be but understanding what the regulations are is the first step so we’ll try to get a handle on that.
Related: What Everyone Should Know About the New Kit and Custom Motorcycle Rules from the EPA
Related: S&S Cycle Engines Get EPA Certification
todd says
Emission testing has not badly affected the hot rod industry. Most people still buy the parts and switch them out after testing. In California the test is once every two years (measured on a dyno) and none at all for 1974 and older cars and trucks. This gives enough time to remove all of the equipment before testing time. It doesn’t matter if it passes emissions either, it must also pass a “visual inspection” that determines if any components were modified, removed or added. The rest of the year any police officer can fine you if he suspects you have modified components on your vehicle.
There has been talk (and maybe action) about installing “sniffers” with cameras on highway on-ramps. If they read excessive emissions it will take a photo of your plate and they mail you a notice to have your vehicle tested.
We have all been taking for granted that motorcycles are not tested for emissions. It is only a matter of time and most likely the standards will be just as lopsided as they are for cars. A Hummer, Suburban, Corvette, or Viper is allowed to have much higher emissions than a Honda Civic – presumably to keep manufacturers producing those inefficient vehicles. Motorcycles will undoubtedly have even higher standards than economy cars.
Yes, there will be more reasons to buy emission friendly vehicles but I say save your money for living life and ride something used.
-todd
humanoid says
I agree. I’m saving up for a new-to-me car right now, and I plan to buy one old enough to be exempt from the damned emission test if I can find anything decent.
chris says
so i’m one of those “greenies” who actually believes that emissions testing is a good thing. high performance and clean engines can coexist. really. one only needs to look at the gas crisis in the 1970’s. the government first decided to implement fuel saving systems on cars. then emissions equipment (read: catalytic converter) these were performance sucking dams in the middle of the exhaust flow at first. now it’s hardly worth removing one for the few horsepower gain. cars are making more power and going faster with LESS nasty stuff pouring out the tailpipe than was ever thought possible 20 years ago. sure there will be some growing pains, but i believe that motorcycling and riding will come out better for the changes. whether they be combustion powered or otherwise. you don’t have to fight the man to have your fun, you just have to work harder and smarter than the man.
Tinker says
I am still riding a 1978 Honda CB400A with under 12,000 miles on it. I expect to continue to do so. What, me worry?
Sean says
Sure, it’s good that we’re damaging the planet less. But for christ’s sake, from what I’ve been hearing and reading in America the margin for motorcycles is so much tighter than the equivalent of cars it’s unbelievable. We don’t have any emissions testing in New Zealand, so I’m not concerned, but the fact of the matter in this is that while motorcycles have always been the cleaner option, we’re expected to still pick up some of the slack that the Dodge Ram leaves. Tell me what’s better, a 4 litre Hemi V8 that sucks up gas as fast as it can, or a quarter litre single that somehow managed to take me 200k on $10 of gas, and still pulls equivalent quarter mile times?
mark says
Thankfully I live in a state that doesn’t even have emissions testing for cars (despite having adopted CARB standards for new vehicles), so I expect it’ll be a very long time before emissions testing for motorcycles is introduced here, if ever. But still, the trend is worrying. I expect the market for older bikes will get ridiculous.
–mark
Prester John says
The EPA/CARB regs for bikes are far less demanding than EUROIII and its offspring found throughout the world. Manufacturers don’t make special “dirty” models for the USA; we’re going to be eye-ball deep in great bikes for the forseeable future. Shoot, even Royal Enfield and Ural have updated engines going through EUROIII certification! You wanna ride an EPA-AOK two stroke on American streets? They’re available. Harley has plenty of emission reg certified hop-up and big bore kits in their big ol’ accessory catalog, surely other manufacturers can do the same. Come on – comparing a pre-emissions 1967 Triumph Bonneville 650 with a EUROIII 2007 Triumph Daytona 675 and you’re worried?
Don’t worry, be happy.
Tom
todd says
It all coms down to cost and complexity to solve a very small problem. Motorcycles are now averaging $10,000. I don’t know about you but that is a lot of money to me, especially living in the San Francisco Bay Area where less than 10% of the people living here can afford to buy a house. As soon as motorcycles start including all of the more complicated emissions equipment do you think they are going to get any less expensive? Gone are the simple bikes that sell for nearly nothing, replaced by super bikes to help offset the premiums added by all of the compliancy components.
I wonder if a simple 350 or 500 single passes all of the extreme EuroIII standards without all of the components required to do the same on a 150HP super sport. If so, maybe those will start being sold again.
-todd
Tom says
Here in the USA, Yamaha – today, right now – will sell you a machine built in Japan that has fuel injection and catalytic exhaust and will pass emmission regs anywhere – for under $2000.
How much cheaper are we talking about?
Tom
todd says
no, I’m not talking about a 50cc scooter. If Yamaha imported the excellent SR400 for $2000 or even $5000 (it sells for around $4000 in Japan) it would do fine. Does it pass EuroIII?
http://world.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.yamaha-motor.jp%2fmc%2flineup%2fsportsbike%2fsr400%2findex.html
-todd
Sean says
Bring back the thumpers.
Prester John says
No, Todd, you were talking about the cost of emissions compliant technology, and as I pointed out, it’s not expensive.
Discussions of what bikes the manufacturers should put on the market are fun, but entirely separate from emissions.
Tom
Dave says
I’m not opposed to cleaner running bikes, but for pete-sake, design them to run better – not just pass emission guidelines. And the aftermarket industry needs to begin offering parts that comply with EPA standards…instead of pushing the responsibility on to the consumer.